Collar and necktie supporter



Jan. 21, 1947. F. M. HESS COLLAR AND NECKTIE SUPPORTER Filed Jan. 30, 1946 IN VE'N TOR.

y g y Patented Jan. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- COLLAR AND NECKTIE SUPPORTER Francis M. Hess, Chicago, Ill. 7

Application January 30, 1946, Serial No. 644,325

Claims.

in use, While at the same time retaining the slipknot, of the tie incorrect positional relationship to the collar.

An object of the invention corollary to the preceding is to feature and emphasize the style built into the collar and especially prevent the slipknot of the tie from drooping and/or exposing the collar button of the shirt; in short, to preserve a dressy appearance of collar and tie.

Another important object of the invention is to provide for a novel support for preventing collar collapse; such support being developed from a length of spring wire in. complementary and substantially trapezoidal form with the upper and lower bars thereof respectively lying approximately in an arc and in a curve substantially corresponding to the curvature of the neck:

and whose inner members are extended as curved juxtaposed depending bars intermediately provided with spring tension means and terminate in anchor means of improved design; the outer ends and upper bars of the complementary trapezoids and the lower connecting member thereof further serving to respectively embrace the neckband of the tie and support its slipknot, thus maintaining the tie in approved positional relationship to the collar wings.

'The above and other improvements will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing depicting the preferred form of construction, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view showing my collar and necktie supporter as applied to a conventional soft collar and four-in-hand tie;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the collar and necktie supporter embodied in my invention;

Fig. 3 a horizontal view of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 a vertical elevation of Fig. 2 in the plane formed by the median line AA; like parts being numbered the same throughout.

Referring to the drawing, the collar I and necktie 2 represent readily procurable standard forms and are not to be considered as a part of my invention, being introduced merely to show its application. It is to be further understood the collar is of conventional construction with an inner fold, 3 andan outer fold 4 terminating in 2 wings 5; the said folds being turned on the line 6.

My supporter, preferably fabricated of nonerodible spring wire of circular cross section, for example, stainless steel spring wire, comprises right and left collar wing supports developed as complementary and substantially trapezoidal frames whose upper bars 1 lie approximately in an arc of less radius but concentric with the curved lower bar 8; such curves substantially corresponding to the curvature of the neck and collar band as will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3. The curved lower bar 8 also acts as a support for the slipknot 8' of the tie and together with the curved juxtaposed depending bars 9, which are so spaced as to nest the said slipknot, cradle the tie and maintain it in centrally spaced relationship with the collar wings 5; the neckband l of the tie being further embraced by the upper bars I and outer bars lfl.

The curvature of the bars I and 8, and the angle formed by the planes of these curves with the plane of the bars 9, as denoted in Fig. 4, ensures aflexibility of movement and a proper fit of the collar wings to the shirt front which is absent in the prior art.

The trapezoidal frames with their extended depending bars in which the complementary double offset spring U bends H are approximately centrally interposed, together with the terminal anchors !2, form a completely integrated means, which after insertion in the collar fold and locking of the anchors, serves to maintain the collar without sagging or creasing.

The above described arrangement .of parts not only provides multiple means for simultaneously preventing collar collapse and preserving the desired flatness of the collar wings, but the double offset spring U bend construction permits ready flexing of the bars 9. Such flexibility allows positional variation in anchor placement corresponding to the style of the collar wings and permits the lower portions of the bars 9 to be deflected sufficiently from the vertical to underlie the collar wings parallel to and adjacent their exposed opposed edges, as depicted in Fig. 1; thus further protecting an area of the collar prone to losing its initial flat appearance.

The anchors l2, disposed adjacent the ends of the bars 9, comprise circular convoluted loops i3 of relatively small diameter with short prolongations therefrom respectively parallel to the axes of said bars and tangent to the base of such loops with said prolongations terminating in the sharp points 14; the said loops further lying. op-

3 posed in planes parallel to the median plane of the line A-A. The tangent feature admits of ready insertion of the said points in the inner surface of the collar wings at a minimum angle to the fabric of the collar and together with the allow for ready flexing incident to locking of the anchors l2 as previously described, but the curves of said U bends are scientifically designed to supply just sufficient tension to retain the anchors in position and prevent collar collapse Without distortion thereof. This tension effect developed by the double ofiset spring U bends further acts as a balancing means for tension in other members which are also in tension.

The more noticeable curvatures of bars l and the connecting bar 8 (Figs. 2 and 3) and the less curvature of the 'bars 9 (Figs. 2 and 4) all serve to emphasize the--individual style of collar and its positional relationship to the upper portion of the shirt bosom; the large radius and corresponding slight curvature of the bars 9, moreover, being further developed to nullify any tendency for turned up collar wing tips and to prevent the turned under effect that would occur with a smaller improperly chosen radius. The various degrees of curvature are also important in pre- 7 serving flex camber, ensuring maximum strength and thus permitting the use of wire of minimum cross section.

In service, the principle of balanced tensions is of vital importance, admitting as it does of unlimited movement of head and neck in all directions with no discomfort or danger of distorting the collar. In spite of the numerous and variety of head movements during the course of a day, a collar and tie fitted with my supporter will remain free from collapse and the outer fold of the collar retained in its pristine smoothness. A collar so protected will also not gather dirt like a wrinkled and creased collar, this being an indirect although an important advantage of my in vention.

The combination of tensions incorporated in the supporter-lends itself, moreover, to a variety of collar styles and still serves its purpose in an equally good manner. For example, where it is necessary to spread the bars 9 considerably to accommodate a type of collar whose wings are separated by a comparatively wide angle, the tension generated co-actively compresses the trapezoids and elevates the lower connecting bar 8. Such compression is obviously desirable in collars of such type whose wing depth is generally short, while the accompanying bar elevation ensures its coverage by the tie.

Other advantages of the invention will doubtless occur to those skilled in the art, and what I claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A collar and necktie supporter of spring wire comprising a central purved 'bar bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose upper members obtain in centrally separated arcsof such radius as to parallelly and subjacently engage without central contact thereof the inner fold of a conventional collar and whose inner members are extended below said central curved bar and slidably ad V shaped frames whose upper members obtain in centrally separated arcs of such radius as to parallelly and subjacently engage without central contact thereof the inner fold of a conventional collar and whose inner members are extended below said central curved bar and slidably adjacent thereto as juxtaposed incurvated depending bars, said bars having approximately centrally interposed complementary excurvated spring U bends and terminating in anchor means adapted to positively engage the wings of said collar, and said anchor means consisting of short pointed prolongations of said depending bars beyond parallelly opposed convoluted loops interposed in said bars adjacent the ends thereof, and said loops being tangent to and subjacent said bars.

3. A collar and necktie supporter of spring wire comprising a central curved bar bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose upper members obtain in centrally separated arcs of such radius as to parallelly and subjacently engage without central contact thereof the inner fold of a conventional collar and whose inner members are extended below said central curved bar and slidably ad- J'acent thereto as juxtaposed incurvated depending bars, said bars having approximately centrally interposed complementary double offset spring U bends and terminating in anchor means adapted to positively engage the wings of said collar,'said anchor means consisting of short pointed prolongations of said depending bars beyond parallelly opposed convoluted loops interposed in said bars adjacent the ends thereof, and said loops being tangent to and subjacent said bars.

4. A collar and necktie supporter comprising a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose upper members lie in centrally separated arcs of less radius but concentric with said central curved bar and whose inner members are extended below said central curved bar and slidably suprajacent thereto as incurvated depending bars having approximately centrally interposed double offset spring U bends and terminating in anchor means adapted to positively engage the wings of said collar, and said spring U bends being designed of such tension thatupon substantial divergence of the lower sections of said depending bars compression of said trapezoidal frames and elevation of said central curved bar co-actively occur.

5. A collar and necktie supporter of spring wire comprising a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames Whose upper'members lie in centrally separated arcs of less radius but concentric with said central curved bar and whose inner members are extended below said central curved bar and slidably suprajacent thereto as juxta posed incurvated depending bars having interposed double offset spring U bends and terminating in anchor means adapted to positively engage the wings of said collar, and said upper members of said frames and said central curved bar lying in approximately parallel planes at an acute angle to the plane of said depending bars with said acute angle substantially corresponding to the angle between the collar and engaging shirt front.

6. A collar and necktie supporter of spring wire comprising a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose upper members lie in centrally separated arcs of less radius but concentric with said central curved bar, the inner ends of said upper members being bent as juxtaposed incurvated depending bars having interposed double offset spring U bends and terminating in anchor means adapted to positively engage the wings of said collar, said anchor means consisting of short pointed prolongations of said depending bars beyond parallelly opposed convoluted loops interposed in said bars in such close proximity to the points as to inhibit excessive penetration of collar fabric, said loops being tangent to and. subjacent said bars and designed of such diameter as to prevent noticeable divergence of the collar wing tips from the shirt front.

7. A collar and necktie supporter adapted for use with a conventional soft collar and tie comprising: a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and designed to exert a slight subjacent upward pressure on the slipknot of the tie, said curved bar being bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose outer members are fashioned to embrace the neckband of said tie, the upper members to parallelly engage without central contactthereof the inner fold of said collar, and the inner members to laterally engage said tie in centrally spaced relationship between the collar wings, said inner members being extended below said central curved bar and slidebly suprajacent thereto as juxtaposed incurvated depending bars having interposed double offset spring U bends and terminating in anchor means adapted to positively engage said collar wings, and the spring U bends being designed to supply the necessary tension between said anchor means and said frames to maintain the latter in positive contact with said tie at the points aforesaid.

8. A collar and necktie supporter adapted for use with a conventional soft collar and tie comprising: a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and designed to exert a slight subjacent upward pressure on the slipknot of the tie, saidcurved bar being bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose outer and upper members are fashioned to respectively embrace the neckband of the tie and parallelly engage the inner top fold of the collar while the inner members laterally engage said tie in centrally spaced relationship between the collar wings, said inner members being extended below said central curved bar and' slidably suprajacent thereto as juxtaposed incurvated depending 'bars having interposed double offset spring U bends and termimating in anchor means, the spring U bends being designed to permit ready flexing of said depending bars for spaced insertion of said anchor means in said collar wings and to retain after such insertion sufiicient tension to ensure positive contact of said frames with said collar and tie at the points aforesaid, and thus preserving said collar wings in a flat unwrinkled condition and maintaining said tie in positional relationship to said collar.

9. A collar and necktie supporter adapted for use with a conventional soft collar and tie comprising: a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and designed to exert a slight subjacent upward pressure on the slipknot of the tie, said curved bar being bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose outer and upper members are fashioned to respectively embrace the neckband of the tie and parallelly engage the inner top fold of the collar while the inner members laterally engage said tie in centrally spaced relationship between the collar wings, said inner members being extended as juxtaposed incurvated depending bars having interposed spring U bends and terminating in anchor means, the spring U bends being designed to permit ready flexing of said depending bars for such spaced insertion of said anchor means in said collar wings that the lower portions of said bars subjacently engage said wings parallel to and adjacent the opposed edges thereof and to retain after such insertion sufficient tension to ensure positive contact of said frames with said collar and tie at the points aforesaid, and thus preserving said collar Wings in a fiat unwrinkled condition and maintaining said tie in positional relationship to said collar.

10. A collar and necktie supporter adapted for use with a conventional soft collar and tie comprising: a central curved bar substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck and designed to exert a slight subjacent upward pressure on the slipknot of the tie, said curved bar being bent at each end into complementary substantially trapezoidal shaped frames whose outer and upper members are fashioned to respectively embrace the neckband of the tie and parallelly engage the inner top fold of the collar while the inner mem- 'bers laterally engage said tie in centrally spaced relationship between the collar wings, said inner members being extended below said central curved bar and slidably adjacent thereto as juxtaposed incurvated depending bars having interposed double ofiset spring U bends and terminating in anchor means, the double offset spring U bends being designed to permit ready flexing of said depending bars for such spaced insertion of said anchor means in said collar wings that the lower portions of said bars subjacently engage said wings parallel to and adjacent the opposed edges thereof and to retain after such insertion suflicient tension in said frames to ensure positive contact thereof with said collar and tie at the points aforesaid, and thus preserving said collar wings in a flat unwrinkled condition and maintaining said tie in positional relationship to said collar.

FRANCIS M. HESS. 

